Concept Guide

Dynamic server onboarding
When the servers are connected to the fabric, SFS discovers the servers automatically.
SFS discovers a host as known servers based on the specific custom originator TLVs in LLDPDUs sent through the connected
ports. Following are the list of known servers discovered by SFS :
● VxRail
NOTE: SFS discovers and onboards the VxRail server automatically.
● PowerStore X
● PowerStore T
When a known server is discovered on the server-facing port, SFS applies the server profile configuration. When a known server
is disconnected, the stale entry is removed from the LLDP neighbor table.
Dynamic discovery of unknown servers
With OS10.5.2.2 and later releases, SFS dynamically discovers unknown servers using the standard LLDPDUs sent out through
the connected ports. Unknown server is a host that does not send a valid originator in custom TLVs in LLDP frame. Upon
discovery, the client management network is configured by default.
NOTE: If the LLDP TLVs are advertised with both bridge and routing capabilities, SFS considers that the interface is
connected to a switch or router. Hence, the client management network is not configured on that interface.
For onboarding an unknown server, the Port-id TLV in LLDP packet is mandatory. SFS matches the Port-id TLV value in the
LLDP packet against the Interface field in the server interface profile to onboard the unknown server. After the server
interface profile is configured, the onboard criteria for unknown server is same as onboarding a known server.
● If both known and unknown LLDP neighbors exist on the same interface, SFS discovers these servers as known and
unknown servers. During onboarding, if the server profile matches with both the known and unknown discovered servers on
the same physical interface or with the same server interface profile, the order of onboarding is as follows:
○ Known discovered server
○ Unknown discovered server
If you offboard the known server, SFS checks for the unknown server and onboards it if available.
● If both known and unknown LLDP neighbors exist with the same port ID, SFS discovers both the known and unknown
servers. During the onboard process, the order of onboarding is as follows:
○ Known discovered server
○ Unknown discovered server
If you offboard the known server, SFS checks for the unknown server and onboards the server if available.
● If there is a static onboarding server profile that is configured on an interface where the known and unknown LLDP
neighbors exist, SFS discovers both the LLDP neighbors. During onboarding if there are conflicts on the physical interface or
server interface profiles, the priority order of onboarding is as follows:
○ Static onboarding
○
Known discovered server
○ Unknown discovered server
If you offboard the statically onboarded server, SFS checks the known servers list first and then the unknown server list to
onboard the device based on the priority order.
Static server onboarding
SFS supports static onboarding of server on assigned ports instead of LLDP-based discovery. This option is used for onboarding
servers that are not discovered by SFS.
To statically onboard a server, you must assign an interface of the leaf switch to which the server is onboarded. See Onboard
nondiscovered server interfaces section in Onboard a Server for more information about static onboarding using GUI.
Configuration notes:
● STP is disabled on the server-connected ports.
SFS fundamentals
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